Acts 13 · Verse 8

Acts 13:8

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
Acts 13:8, King James Version

Acts 13:8 in other translations

BSBBut Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.
WEBBut Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
ASVBut Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.
YLTand there withstood them Elymas the magian--for so is his name interpreted--seeking to pervert the proconsul from the faith.
DARBYBut Elymas the magician (for so his name is by interpretation) opposed them, seeking to turn away the proconsul from the faith.
BBEBut Elymas, the wonder-worker (for that is the sense of his name), put himself against them, with the purpose of turning the ruler from the faith.
WebsterBut Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

What does Acts 13:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 13:8-12
8-12. But Elymas--or "the wise." for so is his name by interpretation--the word is from the Arabic. withstood them--perceiving, probably, how eagerly the proconsul was drinking in the word, and fearing a dismissal. (Compare 2Ti 3:8).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 8. But Elymas the sorcerer, for so is his name by interpretation. Elymas the magician. Elymas is the interpretation, not of the name Bar-jesus, but of the word rendered the sorcerer. It is an Arabic word, and means the same as magus. It seems that he was better known by this foreign name than by his own.

Withstood them. Resisted them. He was sensible that if the influence of Saul and Barnabas should be extended over the proconsul, that he would be seen to be an impostor, and his power be at an end. His interest, therefore, led him to oppose the gospel, His own popularity was at stake; and being governed by this, he opposed the gospel of God. The love of popularity and power, the desire of retaining some political influence, is often a strong reason why men oppose the gospel.

To turn away the deputy from the faith. To prevent the influence of the truth on his mind; or to prevent his becoming the friend and patron of the Christians.

(a) "withstood" 2Ti 3:8

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 But Elymas, the sorcerer, (for so is his name by interpretation) - That is, Elymas is the interpretation of the word μαγος, or sorcerer; not of the word Bar-Jesus as some have imagined; and to support which they have been led into strange etymologies on the word βαρ-Ιησους, Bar-Jesus. But how is Elymas, Ελυμας, the interpretation of the word μαγος, magician or sorcerer? Ans. Both names are Asiatic; but neither Hebrew nor Greek. I have already observed, in the note on Mat 2:1, that mogh in Persian means an idolater, a worshipper of fire, and sometimes what we term a magician. Elymas is from the Arabic ilm, knowledge, science, doctrine, art; from alama, he was wise, skilled, etc.; hence aleem or alymon, a doctor or learned man, and, with the Greek termination, ελυμας, Elymas, the interpretation of mogh, Greek μαγος, magos, a magician, a wise man, doctor, etc.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 13:4-13

Satan is in a special manner busy with great men and men in power, to keep them from being religious, for their example will influence many. Saul is here for the first time called Paul, and never after Saul. Saul was his name as he was a Hebrew; Paul was his name as he was a citizen of Rome. Under the direct influence of the Holy Ghost, he gave Elymas his true character, but not in passion. A fulness of deceit and…

Read the full comment on Acts 13:4-13 →

Acts 13:8 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀνθίστατοanthistatoWas opposingG436
δὲdehoweverG1161
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
ἘλύμαςElumasElymasG1681
ὁhotheG3588
μάγος,magosmagician —G3097
οὕτωςhoutōsthusG3779
γὰρgarforG1063
μεθερμηνεύεταιmethermēneuetaimeansG3177
τὸtotheG3588
ὄνομαonomanameG3686
αὐτοῦ,autouof him —G846
ζητῶνzētōnseekingG2212
διαστρέψαιdiastrepsaito turn awayG1294
τὸνtontheG3588
ἀνθύπατονanthupatonproconsulG446
ἀπὸapofromG575
τῆςtēstheG3588
πίστεως.pisteōsfaith.G4102

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 13:8

  • 2 Timothy 3:8

    Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

  • 2 Timothy 4:14-15

    Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

  • Acts 13:6-7

    And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar–jesus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

  • Acts 13:12

    Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

  • Acts 9:36

    Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

  • John 1:41

    He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

  • Acts 6:7

    And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

  • Acts 8:9

    But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

  • Jeremiah 29:24-32

    Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, The Lord hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the Lord, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks. Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you? …

  • Jeremiah 28:10-11

    Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck, and brake it. And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

  • Exodus 7:11-13

    Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods. And he hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

  • Jeremiah 28:1

    And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the Lord, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
for.
6; 9:36; Joh 1:41
withstood.
Ex 7:11-13; 1Ki 22:24; Jer 28:1,10,11; 29:24-32; 2Ti 3:8; 4:14,15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 13:7

    Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

  • Acts 13:8

    But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

  • Acts 13:9

    Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

Read all of Acts 13

Acts 13:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Mas les resistía Elimas el encantador (que así se interpreta su nombre), procurando apartar de la fe al procónsul.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Mais Élymas, le magicien (car c’est ainsi que son nom s’interprète), leur résistait, cherchant à détourner le proconsul de la foi.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Elymas aber, der Zauberer, widerstand ihnen und suchte den Prokonsul von dem Glauben abwendig zu machen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Resistebat autem illis Elymas magus (sic enim interpretatur nomen ejus), quærens avertere proconsulem a fide.